GROUND COVERS 



Ground-covering plants are very desirable and necessary, both for their usefulness in 

 special situations and for their own beauty. Every property has problem spots such as 

 shady corners where grass will not grow, sunny banks with poor soil that washes out easily, 

 and areas hard to reach with a lawn mower. No matter how attractive your yard looks 

 otherwise, these bare places detract immensely from its overall appearance. Besides, it is 

 a waste of your time, labor and money to struggle with the upkeep of these discour- 

 aging areas. 



The plants offered on this page arc the very best ones we know of to solve the problem. 

 They grow easily, they have no disease or insect enemies, and they quickly clothe the 

 ground in cool green beauty. Their ability to spread and become a permanent part of 

 the landscape picture has been proved and appreciated by home gardeners all over the 

 country. All are a great convenience and improvement for any property. 



And don't overlook the beautiful effects to be gained from using ground covers as con- 

 trast plants. The texture and color of their foliage makes a fine accent in a planting and 

 often lends a finished look that is most pleasing. You will find great satisfaction in using 

 the ground cover most appropriate for your own situation. 



PENNGIFT CROWNVETCH 



penngift CR5WNVETCH 



Winter hardy, drought resistant, maintenance free, Crownvetch is a 

 sturdy ground cover that represents twenty years of research. Al- 

 though not strictly an evergreen, it does remain green all year round 

 until there is a heavy freeze. In that case it turns brown, but surges 

 back to a lovely soft green as soon as the temperature goes above 50°. 

 No matter how cold the winter, Crownvetch survives. And the 

 brilliant sea of soft lavender-pink and white bloom that it provides 

 during the summer is unbelievably luxuriant and beautiful. Countless 

 miles of new highways are bordered by this wonder plant. There it is 

 used primarily to prevent slopes and banks from eroding, but motor- 

 ists appreciate it as a marvelous adjunct to nature. 



Crownvetch will grow in full sun or semi-shade but not in dense 

 shade. The plant quickly spreads by long, deep, tough roots and 

 forms a thick mat that retards runoff and chokes weeds. Extremely 



acid soil should be limed, but very poor soil is no hindrance. Plant 

 the crowns any time except when the ground is frozen or baked dry. 

 Water well for three or four weeks until plants become established. 

 Plants grow about 12 inches high. The foliage is delicate and lacy — 

 the flowers dainty, profuse, lovely. Crownvetch is very good as a 

 boundary between a lawn and a field. The normal operation of a 

 lawn mower will prevent the runners from spreading into the lawn. 



25 crowns (covers 100 sq. ft.) . 



50 crowns (covers 200 sq. ft.) . 



100 crowns (covers 400 sq. ft.) . 



500 crowns (covers 2000 sq. ft.) 



1000 crowns (covers 4000 sq. ft.) 



$6.90 



12.50 



. 22.00 



.102.00 



165.00 



VINCA MINOR 



(Periwinkle or Myrtle) 

 This fine ground cover does equally well in the 

 sun, in dense shade and in semi-shade. It is a 

 hardy evergreen growing 6 to 8 inches high, with 

 stems that trail along the surface of the soil and 

 take root. Myrtle makes a nice appearance all 

 year round, with its small dark glossy leaves 

 that quickly cover the ground. In the spring it 

 is sprinkled with single blue flowers. This is a 

 good plant for using on slopes, to keep the soil 

 from washing away. It also makes a good border 

 or edging for evergreens. In some areas it can 

 very well be combined with pachysandra or ivy, 

 to form a pleasing pattern of varying foliage 

 textures. It needs no pruning or fertilizing. A 

 clump plants a square foot. 



10 large clumps for $2.20— 



50 for S9— 100 for $15.50 



ENGLISH IVY 



(Hedera Helix) 

 A very satisfactory ground cover that grows fast 

 and spreads vigorously. It is a most desirable, 

 permanent plant for shady banks and places 

 under trees. Large, dark, leathery leaves cover 

 the ground with a dense carpet and remain 

 beautiful all winter. English ivy needs a fairly 

 moist soil; it is not recommended for hot 

 dry slopes that receive all-day sun. Either part 

 shade or even full shade is more to its liking. 

 The tiny roots along the stems cling to brick, 

 stucco, wood and concrete and easily take hold 

 in the ground. An overdose of winter sun may 

 cause English ivy to die back but generally the 

 plants make a swift recovery. For best results 

 plant 4 to 6 inches apart. 



10 heavy rooted cuttings for $1.80 — 



50 for $7.50—100 for $12.50 



PACHYSANDRA 



(Japanese Spurge) 

 Very sturdy and dependable, with rich, luxur- 

 iant foliage. There is no ground cover better 

 than pachysandra for shady places. The dark 

 waxy leaves, on 8 to 10-inch stems, quickly form 

 a continuous mass close to the ground. Wherever 

 grass refuses to grow — under evergreen or shade 

 trees, in dark corners of a lot, on steep shady 

 banks — pachysandra comes to the rescue. It 

 does very well under the growing conditions in 

 a city where it has to endure a smoky atmosphere 

 as well as poor soil. It is hardy as far north as 

 the Great Lakes. This plant is fine also as a 

 border along a shady walk and as an under- 

 planting for contrast with evergreens and flow- 

 ering shrubs. Plant 3 to 4 inches apart. 



10 heavy rooted cuttings for $1.80 — 



50 for $7.50—100 for $12.50 



VINCA MINOR 



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Another beautiful ground cover for use on a 

 sunny bank is Sea Foam rose. See page 38. 



43 



